Celebrate Black History Month with these independent London bookstores
by Christina Lazell
October is Black History Month in the UK. Today’s Bimble blog is all about independent bookstores in London, although not all of them are black-owned, but which act as important resources for the black community and others to educate and learn about black history and activism. Jump into the blog to learn more about some of the independent bookstores in London that are doing incredible work for this Black History Month and every month.
With the over-saturation of bookshop chains and online stores like Amazon, it is important to be more mindful of where we are actually buying our books from. Full of personality and unique charm, indie bookstores are the gift that keep giving. From a cafe-by-day, bar-by-night bookshop in Islington, London (Bookbar), to a bookshop on water in Regent’s Canal (Word on the Water), these stores cater for an array of wants and needs (and sometimes, things you never even knew you needed!).
But in addition, independent bookshops hold a pivotal place in the world of social activism and community. These businesses aim to break through the prevailing narratives which have typically dominated literature: bringing to the forefront voices which have been silenced for so long. The UK has examples of such bookshops dotted all over the map, and here’s a dive into some of the important ones London has to offer.
Housmans is one such bookshop based in King’s Cross, London. Open to the public since 1945, they have a long history of championing the voices of marginalised groups. Self-titled “radical booksellers”, Housmans specialise in progressive issues, with work on feminism, race, environmentalism, and LGBTQIA+ dominating the shelves. The history of Housmans is rooted in Dick Sheppard’s Peace Pledge Union (PPU) of 1934, and the bookshop, then known as Peace News, became a hub to promote ideas of peace and human rights after the Second World War. There followed a tumultuous sixty years for the shop, in which it has faced upheavals as well as physical and legal attacks. Nevertheless, Housmans has continued to actively fight to represent marginalised groups.
As an entity for social justice and change itself, Housmans holds various in-store and online events, as well as providing peace resources and book clubs (for example, ‘Housmans Queer Book Club’ and ‘Self-care as an act of warfare: A Black women’s reading group’). They even have their very own YouTube channel!
Another bookshop with a legendary history, established in 1966, New Beacon Books in Finsbury Park are “specialists in African and Caribbean literature”, and the only remaining independent Black publishing and bookselling entity in the UK. New Beacon Books was founded by John La Rose and partner Sarah White, from La Rose’s vision of publishing as giving “an independent validation to one’s own culture, history, politics — a sense of self”.
As with Housmans, New Beacon Books have done far more than selling books, playing an important role in social change. Over the years they have been heavily involved in various movements, such as decolonising the curriculum and the Black Supplementary School Movement. With partner organisations, they also founded the annual International Bookfair of Radical Black and Third World Books. As well as selling and publishing, they also organise events, such as book launches and public lectures.
New Beacon Books has not been without its struggles, though. In December 2021, they faced closure due to the economic impact of Covid-19 and its lockdowns, on top of the competition from online retailers. Faced with a marked loss of income from reduced footfall and restrictions on events in their store, closing their physical bookshop seemed imminent. In an amazing turn of events, support was quickly gathered and led to a crowdfunding campaign which not only reached their £35,000 target, but ended up raising £50,000 in a matter of days! The sense of community protecting this bookshop is undeniable and affirming — it just goes to show the impact independent businesses can have.
Independent bookshops like Housmans and New Beacon Books are pockets of community, social action and justice in a society where the same voices have dominated for too long. They provide a safe space for people to feel a sense of belonging, to read more about their community and feel represented. Moreover, they are important for those outside of the particular community to find resources and learn from. As the conglomerates and retail giants grow, these important cultural spaces are increasingly under threat — consider finding your friendly neighbourhood independent to pick up your next read!
Find a link to my Bimble placelist for more independent bookshops doing amazing work here:
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Images courtesy of Housmans and New Beacon Books websites.
